Flower profile

Nipplewort

Lapsana communis

Introduced in the lower 48

Nipplewort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–September.

37states

2of our state lists

13,400U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Lapsana communis, the common nipplewort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and southwestern Asia, and it is widely naturalized in other regions including North America.
From Wikipedia's article Lapsana communis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asteraceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 37 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Washington and Oregon. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–October. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 3,401 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #50 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,636 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #58 among the 110 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist

Nipplewort gift ideas

Handmade nipplewort gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,532 records)

Bloom time in each of our 2 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Introduced	June–September	3,401
Oregon	Introduced	May–October	2,636

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Washington: No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Washington.
Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records nipplewort in 37 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Washington counties with USDA records: Clallam, Clark, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Washington, Yamhill.

More Washington flowers

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–September

Chicory

Cichorium intybus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–October

Bull thistle

Cirsium vulgare

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile LACO3.
iNaturalist, Lapsana communis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Lapsana communis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Lapsana communis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Harry Podschwit via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.